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A seal assembly includes a semi-tubular sealing element defining a longitudinal axis, and a retainer configured to retain the sealing element. The sealing element has a longitudinal center portion and first and second longitudinal side portions, an array of resilient arcuate fingers extending from t

A seal assembly includes a semi-tubular sealing element defining a longitudinal axis, and a retainer configured to retain the sealing element. The sealing element has a longitudinal center portion and first and second longitudinal side portions, an array of resilient arcuate fingers extending from the first longitudinal side portion and curving partially around the longitudinal axis, and a depressor portion extending from the second longitudinal side portion and having a free edge diametrically opposed to the center portion. The retainer defines a channel with an entrance opening, the channel being configured to receive the sealing element in a position in which the depressor portion extends outside of the entrance opening in position to bear a load, the channel being defined by a pair of opposed side walls configured to resiliently capture the sealing element.

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1. A seal assembly, comprising: a sealing element defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:a longitudinal center portion and first and second longitudinal side portions;an array of resilient arcuate fingers extending from the first longitudinal side portion and curving partially around the longit

1. A seal assembly, comprising: a sealing element defining a longitudinal axis and comprising:a longitudinal center portion and first and second longitudinal side portions;an array of resilient arcuate fingers extending from the first longitudinal side portion and curving partially around the longitudinal axis of the sealing element; anda depressor portion extending from the second longitudinal side portion toward the arcuate fingers of the sealing element;a retainer defining a longitudinal channel in which the sealing element is retained and comprising:a longitudinal base; andfirst and second resiliently deformable opposed longitudinal side walls, each of the first and second side walls extending from the base to an upper edge, wherein the side walls and the base define the channel in which the sealing element is retained, and wherein the channel has an entrance opening defined between the upper edges of the first and second side walls;wherein the first and second side walls of the retainer are resiliently deformed by the sealing element retained in the channel; andwherein the sealing element is retained in the channel in a position in which the depressor portion and the arcuate fingers extend outside of the entrance opening in a position in which the depressor portion is configured to force the sealing element resiliently against the side walls of the retainer in response to a compressive load applied to the depressor portion, wherein once installed, the sealing element maintains the resilient deformation of the side walls without assistance. 2. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel has a width that decreases from the base toward the upper edges of the side walls. 3. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the channel has a relaxed width between the upper edges of the side walls and a resiliently deformed width between the upper edges of the side walls that is greater than the relaxed width, and wherein the sealing element has a diameter greater than the relaxed width. 4. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing element is composed of a metal alloy material suitable for use at an operating temperature of at least about 260° C. 5. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing element has a radius, and wherein each of the side walls has a height at least equal to the radius. 6. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing element is formed from a unitary sheet of a metal alloy spring material. 7. The seal assembly of claim 6, wherein the metal alloy is primarily an austenitic nickel-chromium superalloy. 8. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the sealing element is divided into a plurality of axial segments joined along a flexible axial spine. 9. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the arcuate fingers have a first radius of curvature, and wherein the depressor portion has a second radius of curvature greater than the first radius of curvature. 10. The seal assembly of claim 1, wherein the depressor portion terminates in a free edge that overlies the longitudinal axis of the sealing element. 11. A seal assembly, comprising: a semi-tubular sealing element defining a longitudinal axis and having first and second longitudinal side portions, the first side portion being configured as a longitudinal array of arcuate fingers curving partially around the longitudinal axis, the second side portion being configured as a longitudinal depressor portion extending toward the array of arcuate fingers and having a free edge spaced radially and circumferentially from the fingers in the array; and a retainer comprising a base and a pair of resiliently deformable opposed side walls extending from the base, the base and the side walls defining a channel configured to retain the sealing element, wherein each of the side walls extends from the base to an upper edge, wherein the upper edges of the side walls define between them a channel entrance opening that has a first, relaxed width, and a second, resiliently deformed width when the sealing element is retained in the channel, the resiliently deformed width being greater than the relaxed width, and wherein the sealing element is retained in the channel in a position in which the depressor portion and the arcuate fingers extend outside of the channel entrance opening in a position in which the depressor portion is configured to force the sealing element resiliently against the side walls of the retainer in response to a compressive load applied to the depressor portion, wherein once installed, the sealing element maintains the channel entrance opening in the second resiliently deformed width without assistance. 12. The sealing assembly of claim 11, wherein the channel has a width that decreases from the base toward the upper edges of the side walls. 13. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the first and second longitudinal side portions extend from opposite sides of a center portion, and wherein the free edge of the depressor portion is approximately diametrically opposed to the center portion. 14. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the depressor portion is configured to transfer a load to the sealing element, whereby the sealing element is deformed radially in response to the load. 15. The seal assembly of claim 14, wherein the radial deformation of the sealing element secures the sealing element within the channel sufficiently to prevent axial rotation of the sealing element within the channel. 16. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the sealing element is composed of a metal alloy material suitable for use at an operating temperature of at least about 260° C. 17. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the sealing element has a radius, and wherein each of the side walls has a height approximately equal to the radius. 18. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the sealing element is formed from a unitary sheet of a metal alloy spring material. 19. The seal assembly of claim 18, wherein the metal alloy is primarily an austenitic nickel-chromium superalloy. 20. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the sealing element is divided into a plurality of axial segments joined along a flexible axial spine. 21. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the sealing element is fixed to the base of the channel so as to prevent axial rotation of the sealing element within the channel. 22. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the arcuate fingers have a first radius of curvature, and wherein the depressor portion has a second radius of curvature greater than the first radius of curvature. 23. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the sealing element has a diameter greater than the relaxed width of the entrance opening. 24. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the first and second side walls are resiliently deformed by the sealing element retained in the channel. 25. The seal assembly of claim 11, wherein the free edge of the depressor portion overlies the longitudinal axis of the sealing element. 26. A method of making a seal assembly, comprising: (a) providing a sheet of high spring strength, high temperature metal alloy having first and second opposed side edges; (b) forming a semi-tubular sealing element by: (b)(1) forming a first portion of the sheet including the first side edge into a linear array of fingers; (b)(2) bending the fingers partially around a longitudinal axis to form a linear array of arcuate fingers; and (b)(3) forming a depressor portion by bending a second portion of the sheet including the second side edge toward the array of arcuate spring fingers so that the second side edge overlies the longitudinal axis and is spaced radially and circumferentially from the arcuate fingers; (c) providing a sealing element retainer comprising a base and a pair of resiliently deformable opposed side walls extending from the base, the base and the side walls defining a channel configured to retain the sealing element, the channel having an entrance opening defined between the side walls and having a relaxed width and a resiliently deformed width greater than the relaxed width; and (d) installing the sealing element into the channel with the depressor portion and the arcuate fingers extending outside entrance opening of the channel, whereby installing the sealing element forces the entrance opening of the channel from its relaxed width to its deformed width, and whereby once installed, the sealing element maintains the channel entrance opening in the resiliently deformed width without assistance. 27. The method of claim 26, wherein the sealing element retainer is made of the same metal alloy as the sealing element. 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the depressor portion is configured to transfer a load to the sealing element, whereby the sealing element is compressed radially in response to the load. 29. The method of claim 26, wherein the sealing element has a diameter that is greater than the relaxed width of the entrance opening, and wherein the step of installing includes resiliently spreading the side walls apart to the deformed width to permit entry of the sealing element into the channel, and then allowing the side walls to resiliently return to the relaxed width. 30. The method of claim 27, wherein the metal alloy is an alloy that is suitable for use at an operating temperature of at least about 260° C. 31. The method of claim 26, wherein the sealing element has a radius, and wherein each of the side walls has a height approximately equal to the radius. 32. The method of claim 30, wherein the metal alloy is primarily an austenitic nickel-chromium superalloy. 33. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of installing includes fixing the sealing element to the retainer. 34. The method of claim 26, wherein the arcuate fingers are bent so as to have a first radius of curvature, and wherein the second portion of the sheet is bent to form a depressor portion that has a second radius of curvature greater than the first radius of curvature.